With LAPP eKanban to an optimised restocking process
LAPP eKanban integrates state-of-the-art IIoT technologies to enable seamless and efficient digital cable inventory management. Using smart eKanban sensors and an IIoT gateway, the system monitors cable consumption in real time and transmits the data to a cloud platform.
This enables companies to optimise warehousing, improve replenishment processes and avoid production bottlenecks.
LAPP eKanban stands for
Innovative technologies:
LAPP eKanban combines state-of-the-art IIoT and AI technologies to optimise your cable inventory management. Cloud computing and big data are used to efficiently process and analyse large volumes of data.
Reliability
You can rely on the precise recording and analysis of your inventory data based on the number of revolutions and the speed at which the cable drum unwinds. Based on historical consumption, the customer's current cable stock and LAPP's current delivery times, we can advise our customers to reorder in good time.
Efficiency
Optimise your processes and reduce their costs as well as their susceptibility to errors.
Customer support:
Benefit from our expertise and comprehensive support.
What is IIoT, cloud computing and big data?
IIoT = Industrial Internet of Things; use of certain IIoT technologies in an industrial environment (Boyes et al., 2018)
Cloud computing = Access to a scalable pool of shared physical or virtual IT resources (ISO/IEC 22123-1)
Big data = Information stocks characterised by such a high volume that special technologies and analysis methods are required (De Mairo et al., 2015)
What are the components of LAPP eKanban?
The system consists of eKanban sensors, an eKanban IIoT gateway, RFID tags and a user-friendly software interface.
- Sensors: They detect the rotation and speed of the cable drums in order to precisely measure cable consumption
- IIoT gateway: It transmits the data collected by the LAPP eKanban sensors to the cloud via a mobile phone connection
- RFID labels: They comprise the digital twin of your cable reel and consolidate the required information for the eKanban sensor
- user interface: It provides a visual representation of the cable inventory and enables automatic reordering.
1. Installation of the IIoT gateway
Connect the IIoT gateway to the power supply.
The gateway connects automatically via the mobile phone network and records all eKanban sensors within a radius of approx. 40 metres.
2. Installation of the sensors
Attach the sensor to the RFID label that LAPP has already supplied for you with the cable reel. All relevant information is transferred directly to the cloud and thus to the user interface.
Press the button on the sensor to establish the connection to the RFID tag. If the connection is successful, two short signals sound and the LED flashes green twice. You can also check the connection status of the eKanban sensors in the user interface.
3. LAPP eKanban user interface
The LAPP eKanban user interface is intuitively designed and makes it easy to manage your cable inventory. It can be accessed via any browser and shows the cable inventory almost in real time. There is no need for time-consuming IT approvals or the installation of proprietary software.
Functions:
- Shelf overview: See all your created cable shelves and the current cable inventory at a glance, similar to your cable drum shelf: row by row, column by column.
- Adding LAPP cable drums at the touch of a button: The product data of every new LAPP cable drum is stored in the RFID label and is read automatically. This saves you the time needed for manual configuration and minimises errors.
- Third-party cable drums: The use of third-party cable drums is possible. They can be added manually by using a blank RFID label and configuration in the user interface.
- Customised order configuration: Depending on your cable requirements, you can define a safety stock level, which automatically triggers a notification if it is not reached.
- Link to the LAPP online shop: For each LAPP cable you will find a direct link to the online shop, so that reordering is as quick and convenient as possible for you. The product information sheet for each specific cable can also be downloaded directly via the LAPP eKanban user interface.
- Sensor monitoring: Check the status, battery level and last activity of your LAPP eKanban sensors at any time.
Prerequisites for use
In order to enable smooth use of LAPP eKanban, the following must be in place.
Hardware
LAPP online shop account
Environment
Your all-round carefree package for efficient, digital cable inventory management
LAPP eKanban offers a quick and easy solution for digitising your cable inventory management. With our plug & play setup, you'll be up and running in no time. Our experts are on hand to assist you with onboarding and answer your questions within 24 hours.
FAQ
LAPP eKanban enables the digital inventory management of cables. It uses smart eKanban sensors to record the consumption of cables and transmit it to a cloud platform. This enables companies to manage their cable inventory more efficiently and avoid bottlenecks.
With LAPP eKanban, we offer our customers additional added value that goes far beyond high-quality products. The system solves the complexity of manual cable inventory management through intelligent and data-based consumption monitoring of reeled cables. You benefit from
- leaner warehouses and lower storage process costs,
- higher productivity
- improved planning capability,
- smart repeat orders and
- Efficiency gains in the procurement process.
Installation on LAPP cable drums is quick and easy: Attach the sensor to the RFID label attached at the factory and establish the connection between the cable drum and sensor at the touch of a button. If the connection is successful, two short beeps sound and the LED flashes green twice. Your cable drum is read by the sensor and automatically transferred to your virtual cable rack in the user interface. The LAPP eKanban user interface visualises the digital twins of your cable drum warehouse.
The IIoT gateway is connected to the power grid and automatically connects to the sensors. It should be positioned within 40 metres of the eKanban sensors to ensure reliable data transmission.
The sensors transmit rotation and acceleration data to the cloud, where they determine the remaining cable stock. The data is visualised in the user interface and can be used for inventory monitoring and reorder notifications.
Yes, you will receive an automatic order notification once the safety stock level has been reached and you can use this to initiate your order process with LAPP
To be able to LAPP eKanban, you need to operate a cable drum rack as a central point of consumption for your cables. You also need the hardware provided by LAPP (sensor, IIoT gateway, RFID tags), e ing a power connection and stable mobile phone reception, as well as a customer account in our online shop.
The user interface can be accessed via the LAPP online shop (https://www.lapp.com). After logging into your customer account, you can set up your cable rack, view stock data and manage repeat orders.
No, there is no need to download or install any software. The user interface can be accessed with any standard browser via the customer profile in the LAPP online shop.
Sources:
Boyes, H., Hallaq, B., Cunningham, J., & Watson, T. (2018). The industrial internet of things (IIoT): An analysis framework. Computers in Industry, 101, 1-12
De Mauro, A., Greco, M., & Grimaldi, M. (2015). What is big data? A consensual definition and a review of key research topics. AIP Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4907823